82-Year-Old Pump Retires; Do You Have an Old One Working?

Aug 19, 2010

When should a pump retire? Like people, most liquid ring vacuum pumps retire after 30 or 40 years of work. They get "tired" or their skills become surpassed by the younger generation. Gardner Denver Nash found one of its Hytor #6 pumps that worked for 82 years before being removed for repair.

The pump worked on the pulp dryer machine on a top felt Uhle box at Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company. The plant was built in 1928 by the Union Bag Company, and the #6 was there from the start. During its 82 years, the pump has seen the company change hands a number of times, but it kept on doing its job.

The pump recently made way for a more efficient Nash pump, but it could have kept operating if the bearings had been replaced.

Nash is running a contest to see what other pumps have been working hard for many years. The person who submits the oldest pump will win a GPS Navigator. Submissions don't have to be 82 years old; they just have to be older than other contest entries. For details, go to www.GDNash.com/oldestpump.aspx. Entry forms will be accepted until Nov. 1.